Combination tray and cigarette extinguishing device



H. F. THOMAS Jan. 22, 193 5.

COMBINATION TRAY AND CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Filed April 28, 195-3 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES COMBINATION TRAY AND .CIGARETT EXTINGUISHING .DEVICE' My invention relates to improvements in combination tray and cigarette extinguishing device and the principal objects of the invention are to provide, as an article of manufacture, a tray and extinguishing device adapted for use as an ash receptacle and as a means for extinguishing a lighted cigarette by suffocation. Another object is to provide a novel locking means for retaining the extinguisher in a closed position. Further objects are to provide a common ash tray and cigarette extinguishing device that is simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and is particularly adapted for use as an extinguisher for lighted cigarettes.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the device in combination with an ash tray.

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of the extinguisher shown retaining a cigarette taken substantially on a broken line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the hinged portion from the rear of the extinguisher.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of the locking mechanism taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the invention.

It is a well known fact that machine manufactured cigarettes, when lighted continue to burn unless some means is applied to extinguish the fire. Otherwise, it will smolder within the ash receiver until consumed giving off undesirable gases into the room, as well as being wasteful and expensive. After lighting a new cigarette, the smoker may desire to draw only a few breaths, after which the cigarette is to be extinguished pending a second smoke from the same cigarette, as is often the case when working at the desk or under like circumstances. Referring to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals designate like parts, the device comprises a tray portion 5 that may be constructed in any desired form or shape and forms a base for mounting the extinguishing device. The extinguishing device is cylindrical in shape and is preferably molded of bakelite or some other suitable, fireproof material. The extinguisher is constructed of two members.

The lower member 6 is mounted upon a support 7 which may be cast integral with the tray 5 or secured thereto by other means. Hinged to the lower member, at 8, is an upper member 9 being practically symmetrical with the lower member. The two members, 8 and 9 are concaved on the interior so that when closed, a long central opening 10 is formed which is adapted to snugly contain a cigarette 11. The abutting sides 12, 12' of the two members are surfaced so that an air tight joint will be formed between them, when the members are in a closed position. When the partly smoked cigarette 11 is laid in the opening 10 and the device closed, all air is excluded and the fire is smothered or extinguished by suffocation. The cigarette remains within the extinguisher, unconsumed and in readiness for the next smoke. Thus my invention is economical in that it conserves cigarettes and also prevents foul gases from entering the atmosphere within the room.

Referring to the-form of my invention shown in Figures 1-4 inclusive, the hinge 8 is provided with a spring 13 to normally retain the upper member in a raised position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. To hold the upper member 9 in the closed position, a locking device is provided having a spring catch 14 as shown in Fig. 4 which will be automatically caught when the upper member or cover portion 9 is closed. To release the catch 14, a trip lever 15 is provided. This lever is pivoted at 16 within the lower member 8. The extreme inner end of the lever is constructed with a cam-face 17 which contacts with the spring catch 14 when forced downward. This action forces the catch to the dotted position thus releasing the upper member 9 from the locked position. As shown in the full line, the catch 14 is provided with a recessed head 18 which extends over a lip 19 within the member 9. The lower end 20 of the spring catch is embedded in the lower member 8 where it is securely fastened. The catch having been made of spring steel forces itself against the cam-face thus forcing the lever 15 to the full line position. A slight touch applied to the lever 15 will release the catch whereupon the spring 13 will cause the upper member to the device to open. When in the open position, a cigarette may be placed therein and the upper member forced closed by pressing said member downward contacting the locking mechanism.

In the modified form, as shown in Fig. 5, a simplified form of construction is shown. In this form, the hinged joint 8 is made snug so that it will frictionally bind sufficiently to hold the upper portion 9 in any position it is placed thus eliminating the necessity for the spring 13. A lip portion 21 projects from the upper member to form a lifting means when it is desired to open the extinguisher.

I claim:

1. A cigarette extinguishing device consisting of two members, a hinge securing the two members together at one end and forming a closure for said end, a locking means for the opposite end, said members having complementary grooved portions forming an opening adapted to hold a cigarette and supporting means for the extinguisher secured to one of said members, and a spring arranged to normally retain the two members in an open position.

2. A cigarette extinguishing device comprising two members hinged together, a locking means for the said members and a spring arranged to normally retain the two members in an open position.

3. The combination with an ashtray, of an extinguishing device consisting of a tubular member, said member comprising a lower semitubular member disposed in horizontal relation With the tray and connected thereto, an upper semi-tubular member, a hinge connecting the ends of said members together and forming a closure for one end of said members when they are in a closed position, and the other end of the tubular member being open, a spring connected to said hinge and adapted to retain the upper member in a normally open and raised position, and a catch connected to the open end of the tubular member and arranged to retain the two semitubular members in a closed position against the tension of the spring.

HARRY F. THOMAS. 

